Baseball Ignoramus Scratching Head

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Being something of a clueless baseball “fan” (i.e., having not really followed the sport since I was 10 or 11), I was initially confused by last night’s Washington Post story, written by Chelsea James, about Aaron Judge‘s historic 62nd home run against the Texas Rangers.

In so doing the Paul Bunyan-sized Judge (6’7″, 282 pounds) passed Roger Maris “for the most homers in a single season by an American League player.”

That’s very commendable, I thought, but why didn’t James’ lead paragraph convey two basic, crucial facts? One, Judge’s 62-home-run record was topped six times by three National League players — Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa — during the steroid era (mid ’90s to early aughts). And two, Judge had beaten Maris’s American League record without the aid of steroids. Or, put another way, that he had slammed those 62 in a “clean” way.

In paragraph #3 James gently puts it as follows: “All three played at a time when MLB did not test for performance-enhancing drugs as stringently as it does now.”

And how come the TV cameras — here comes the ignorant, don’t-follow-baseball part — how come the cameras cut away to an older white couple (Patty and Wayne Judge), jubilant and hugging, when it seemed apparent they they weren’t related to the biracial Judge? Oh, I see…the 30 year-old Judge was adopted by the Judges in ’92. Didn’t realize that…sorry.

What a relief when I came upon a story by Sports Illustrated‘s Thomas Neumann, titled “Baseball World Debates True Home Run King After Judge Hits No. 62.” A story that doesn’t pussy-foot or beat around the bush….thank you!

“One thing is certain after Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season Tuesday,” Neumann began. “The American League has a new home run king.

“The blast lifted Judge past another famous Yankees outfielder, Roger Maris, giving him sole possession of the AL record.

“However, that mark was exceeded six times in the National League during the heyday of the steroid era. Barry Bonds set the MLB record of 73 in 2001. Mark McGwire hit 70 in ’98 and 65 in ’99. Sammy Sosa hit 66 in ’98, 64 in ’01 and 63 in ’99.

“By being associated with performance-enhancing drugs, the feats of Bonds, McGwire and Sosa are discredited by some fans who view their accomplishments as tainted.”